CHAPTER 687: CHAPTER 261: TWO MONTHS LATER, THE WEST IS PACIFIED (PART 2)

As far as he knew, when Jing Qiu ascended to the summit of White Jade City and cut down the projection of Zhang Tiancheng with a single blade, it sparked much controversy within the Wanwu Association.

That Master Zhang was indeed astonishing in his methods, and within the Wanwu Association, many people had already revered him as a God, almost deifying him.

"The Wanwu Association is not foolish. Their goal is to enter the official system and thereby grasp control of the Federation, and under the official propaganda, to say that the public supported Jing Qiu is not an exaggeration. They wouldn’t choose to oppose Jing Qiu at this juncture, for his momentum is overwhelming." The opposite party explained.

"Propaganda? The power of media opinion is always in the hands of the upper class!"

Li Xuantian said coldly,

"Taking down Jing Qiu at this time would mean gaining the support of the western tribes. Could it be they still intend to ally with Jing Qiu? Don’t forget, regarding Jing Qiu’s parents, the Wanwu Association was also a stakeholder."

The other side was silent for a moment, then said, "That was just an accident. The one who truly attacked Jing Qiu’s parents was Jia Weiting, which had no direct connection with the Wanwu Association."

Li Xuantian interrupted, "So the Wanwu Association plans to concede?"

After another moment of silence, the other party finally stopped concealing and revealed:

"The Wanwu Association will act at the final moment of the western conflict, but not to suppress Jing Qiu, instead to mediate the conflict between Jing Qiu and the various tribes of the west, serving as a middleman."

Li Xuantian mocked:

"A middleman? Waiting until Jing Qiu fights to the end, then jumping in to take the spoils, this truly fits my perception of these people, foolish and unaware!"

...

...

Time flashed by.

It had been two months since Jing Qiu returned to the western battlefield.

Time passed quickly, even for the war-torn, constantly suffering western region, looking back on these two months felt like a dream.

At this moment.

Jing Qiu walked through a city under reconstruction, the pre-dawn morning breeze brushing past his ears.

His spirit constantly maintained a fusion with heaven and earth, with no distinction between inner and outer heaven and earth, truly becoming a part of it.

The surging, formless Void Essence Qi was like an ocean, his body soaking in it, all his pores and acupoints opening, inhaling and exhaling with heaven and earth, feeling an unprecedented comfort.

He could feel the innate formless Dao body undergoing a slow transformation, and it seemed his life force was still rising.

Normally, this step had limited life force enhancement, more about profound insights, but he clearly exceeded the norm.

Though this was a good thing, for the upcoming unity of heart and body, it wasn’t very "friendly."

And for Jing Qiu, the unity of spirit was more seamless than the innate Dao body transformation, as this step posed no difficulty.

What followed was what he faced as his biggest and last challenge before the Heavenly Person.

——Unity of Heart and Body.

For the past two months, he roamed heaven and earth, challenging various heavenly persons in the west, sustaining battle with battle, but the unity of heart and body still showed minimal results.

"I feel it’s still not enough, the transformation of the innate Dao body seems to lack something."

Jing Qiu muttered to himself.

The divine sense part in his brow center’s Heart Moon told him he could do better at this step.

Hel’s lazy voice echoed in his spirit:

"When you go back this time, I’ll teach you the Formless Heavenly Demon Technique. To make it past the unity of heart and body stage, besides water grinding, you need to borrow the power of all realms."

This statement aroused significant interest in Jing Qiu.

This cultivation technique would finally meet a master who understands it.

"Finish your western journey soon, though watching your Federation’s internal strife like dogs biting each other is entertaining, seeing you sweep across turns the novelty into dullness..."

Jing Qiu gently stroked the Green Master Blade’s hilt.

Over these two months, he visited all the "renowned" noble families and dojos in the west.

Initially, people weren’t friendly. During this time, some heavenly persons attempted to besiege him, but with the Divine Weapon ’Four Directions Glazed World’ for protection, the least he feared was group battles.

Besides, the Military Department and Hundred Veins experts weren’t there just to watch, and Jing Qiu’s "solitary journey" was also bait.

To deal with heavenly persons who violate unwritten rules, their attitude was quite different, as governing the west required both thunder and dew, needing these "willing" sacrifices.

After some time of "blending," his interactions with the various tribes in the west gradually became "harmonious."

Jing Qiu affirmed once more that fame was won through combat, respect achieved through bloodshed; only a southern wall would make people turn back.

Hel suddenly asked: "Do you think your current actions really hold meaning? Perhaps in a hundred years or so, everything will revert. History always repeats."

Jing Qiu paused slightly.

Unknowingly.

He stood at another crossroads, noisy sounds in his ears, the morning sun rising from the horizon, a vibrant crowd surging.

This city was under reconstruction, people bustling back and forth, each contributing to rebuilding their home.

The official government actually offered many people the option to migrate to other star domains, yet many chose to stay behind.

Perhaps because this was their homeland, holding an indescribable sentiment, or because there were too many inseparable pasts and people...

Jing Qiu stood still for a long time, not stepping into the crowd, yet still feeling a sense of solace, like sitting at the train window under the night sky, gazing at the distant farmhouse’s tiny lamp.

Isn’t this very meaningful?

Some things, you can’t dismiss as "what happens after," and not do them.

At least...

"Before I pass away, the noble families of the west will remember the day I visited."

Jing Qiu looked up, in the distant void, several figures stood tall.